Now that our elections are over, we must return to the transportation issues that will affect our economic and social future. The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MOTI) has put out a Discussion Guide and Survey with respect to B.C. on the Move, A 10- Year Transportation Plan; and the BC Ferry Commission has invited public comment on BC Ferries’ Submission for the next performance term (PT4), their 10 year Capital Plan and their Efficiency Plan for PT4 and beyond. These are all major documents that will impact the accessibility and cost of living on Bowen. Both documents are convoluted and both have very short timeframes for comments.
Having read them (yes, some people do read these things) one realizes that Bowen islanders are hostages to a number of vested interests over which we have little control. A good example, is the $200M Horseshoe Bay terminal (HSB) upgrade that Michael Chapman discussed in last week’s Undercurrent. There is little doubt that the terminal structure needs upgrading – the simple questions are “how much” and for “how many ferry arrivals and departures.”
BCF proposed (in its efficiency plan) to cut the number of Nanaimo sailings from HSB thus reducing the need for the expensive upgrades to the transfer deck. The Minister of Transportation, Todd Stone, first supported the idea and the next day reversed his position. Shrinking the level of traffic from HSB could save money and in doing so reduce pressure on ferry fares. So why did MOTI change its mind and not want to look at that option? Where are the savings going to come from now? There are many other capital items planned including the replacement of the aging minor route fleet. There is currently no debate about the collateral effects on island communities in general or on Bowen in particular.
The actual work for the $200M upgrade to HSB will take several years. For Bowen that means years (not months) of berth closures and the related inconvenience. Why? To support what is currently excess capacity on the Mainland to Vancouver Island routes. Who benefits? Not Bowen Island.
The Minister has ordered a study of the feasibility of a bridge to Gabriola which will include an examination of the costs of a bridge versus a ferry.
A bridge would free up an existing ferry into what is currently a fleet running without any spare capacity. One assumes that the study will also consider possible one-time gains through the closure and disposal of the two terminals concerned: one in downtown Nanaimo, and the other on Gabriola. Such a change would undoubtedly change the nature of life on Gabriola, although there would likely be a substantial increase in real estate prices.
Should Bowen get involved in these discussions? On the one hand yes – anything we can support that reduces overall BCF costs will impact fares and thus benefit Bowen, but equally who are we to get involved in major social and economic decisions affecting Gabriola islanders or travellers to the northern half of Vancouver Island?
All residents of BC are being asked to comment on these documents. Bowen Island must make submissions, within the short timeframes open to us. BIMTAC will have a special meeting on Nov. 26th at the municipal hall at 7:15pm to review and discuss these proposals so we can prepare submissions for our new Council to make to the powers that be. We need your inputs. The answers are not clear. But in the meantime Bowen Islanders are hostages to much larger political and economic forces that may well roll over us, without any reference to how they might affect us. I hope to see you at the meeting.
